THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
Autumn is approaching, and with it the third winter, which Ukrainians will probably still face in a full-scale war. The question arises whether Ukraine’s energy system will again withstand the attacks of russian missiles and drones. Two years ago, journalists were already working to the roar of generators, with flashlights and power banks. Now, as they prepare for new challenges, Ukrainian media have an additional resource of resilience — EcoFlow charging stations.
A total of 50 devices — from the Cherkasy and Sumy Regions to Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — have traveled across the country thanks to the NUJU project called Strengthening the Energy Independence of Ukrainian Media with the support of the Ukrainian Media Fund. Teams of various types of media received the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max and RIVER 2 Max — compact yet powerful models capable of powering computers, routers, telephones, voice recorders, and office printers. For some, this is a chance to send the issue to print on time; for others, it is an opportunity to function effectively “in the field” and power office equipment.
There will be light, thus there will be a newspaper!
The team of the Novyny Horodnianshchyny newspaper (Chernihiv Region) is well aware of the critical impact that even a few-hour power outage on the day of publication can have. This vulnerability has now significantly decreased: with the funds provided, the team purchased a powerful EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max. The newsroom explains that the station is capable of ensuring uninterrupted operation even during a complete blackout, because it can simultaneously power up to 13 devices — from laptops and printers to routers and voice recorders. For a small team, this means confidence: the newspaper will be published regardless of the conditions.
A similar experience is shared by the team of the Sarnenski Novyny newspaper (Rivne Region), where they emphasize that a power outage paralyzes the publication’s activities and threatens to disrupt deadlines.
“We have already had to make sure of the effectiveness of EcoFlow,” the newsroom says. “When the power went out during the delivery of the newspaper to print, it was the use of the charging station that helped us meet the schedule, and readers received the magazine without delay.”
Working in the frontline Region, the Kramatorsk newspaper, Technopolis, often faces power outages. According to the publication, the new equipment enables it to stay connected to the community and disseminate important information in a timely manner, even when the power is turned off. The Nashe Slovo newspaper in the Chernihiv Region, despite wartime hardships, has also been sufficiently strengthened to continue printing, update its website and social networks, and provide its audience with reliable, verified information.
During prolonged power outages, almost all editorial work at the Nashe Zhyttia newspaper (Zaporizhzhia) comes to a halt: computers cease to function, and communication with readers via the website and social networks is disrupted. In such conditions, the charging station has become not a luxury for the team, but a necessity — a guarantee that the community will receive news without delay.
“Constant attacks on the energy sector will not be able to stop us,” emphasizes editor-in-chief Kateryna Zavarzina.
The local Novyi Den publication from Kherson continues to report on the Region after it escaped occupation and relocation. For the team, the charging station is not just a technical solution, but a guarantee that the media will be able to work effectively during business trips, maintaining contact with the audience and covering events without delays.
“Today, the de-occupied part of the Kherson Region is under constant shelling by russian occupiers from various types of weapons. Therefore, the power supply often fails. This negatively affects the work of Novyi Den journalists during business trips to the Kherson Region. And again, reliable partners came to the rescue,” say the editorial staff of Novyi Den.
Journalists of Volia Narodu (Lviv Region) also explain that now blackouts will not interfere with the preparation of the newspaper, as EcoFlow guarantees an uninterrupted power supply to computers and other equipment, despite the old electrical network.
The site has no right to “lie down”
For digital media, the main challenge remains the continuity of the news feed. When journalists work remotely, any blackout is immediately felt. Without electricity and a router, the system essentially collapses, and sites may cease to function.
Thus, the editors who coordinate the Mykolayiv and Odesa hyperlocal media networks Rayon.in.ua must promptly respond to events and maintain contact with local correspondents. Now, thanks to EcoFlow, they will keep servers and office equipment powered, and will also work on business trips.
“The NUJU support is a trust in the mission of frontline media,” the team of the Kupyansk.City online media. “Thanks to energy independence, we will be able to expand the circle of readers and continue to work for the people of Kupiyansk despite the challenges of wartime.”
Audiovisual media remain the most energy-intensive
The Orbita TV company recently conducted the first “field” test of the EcoFlow station. After the destruction of the office in Pokrovsk by russian shelling, journalists were forced to work in various settlements in the Donetsk Region: the station has already allowed them to recharge their equipment on a business trip and prepare materials for the evening news broadcast right on the way.
The team of the Nadiya TV and Radio Company (Kharkiv Region) is also going on a business trip with cameras and recording equipment. The team needed a compact and reliable device that could keep all of this working:
“The purchased equipment will contribute to our energy sustainability, guarantee the uninterrupted functioning of studio equipment, consoles, servers, office equipment, recharging batteries for video cameras and on-camera lights, audio microphones and audio systems, power banks, smartphones, etc., during field shootings. Additionally, Nadiya has been actively and successfully developing the mobile journalism format in recent years, utilizing the MOJO platform. Therefore, the flash drives we provide will facilitate the storage and processing of video content shot by journalists.
The RAI TV and Radio Company from Ivano-Frankivsk also operates in unstable conditions — after the destruction of the Burshtyn TPP, one of the largest power plants in western Ukraine, the Region has become particularly vulnerable to energy problems. The station’s restoration will take years, so the issue of backup power for the TRK is important. As the only media outlet in the Carpathian region with correspondents in several cities and actively utilizing mobile journalism, the team consistently covers regional events and participates in media projects. According to the team, the charging station will help continue broadcasting even in the most difficult conditions of energy shortage.
Colleagues from the only operational regional radio station, Radio Nostalzhi, which is located in Nikopol, Zaporizhzhia Region, a city being under shelling every day, emphasize: “Our listeners must always be with us.” According to the radio operators, the received station has become a guarantee of continuous broadcasting.
The team at FM Galicia radio in Lviv perceived the charging station as a symbol of care. They say:
The voice of support must always be heard!
Powering the Word
In the media applications, they listed a whole arsenal of equipment that requires power, including laptops, desktop computers, routers, mobile phones, voice recorders, lighting, and printers. Some will utilize EcoFlow to support the publication’s server. In contrast, others will work “in the field” or from home, maintaining contact with colleagues.
Among the recipients of charging stations are five television companies, three radio stations, eight online media outlets, and 33 print publications that are developing digital platforms in parallel. It is essential that 31 of these media operate in frontline regions, where the stability of energy supply is particularly crucial. The total audience of the supported newsrooms exceeds 8 million people, and their combined print circulation reaches 130,000 copies.
At the same time, the assistance was not limited to EcoFlow. The newsrooms were also able to purchase over 80 pieces of additional equipment — from flash drives, memory cards, keyboards, and mice to headphones, batteries, power banks, routers, external hard drives, and even backpacks for business trips. All this enhances technical stability, allowing journalists to quickly perform their work regardless of the conditions. According to colleagues, this is an important investment in the stability of independent journalism.
“Today, Ukrainian journalists work in extremely difficult conditions, and power outages can paralyze their work. We continue to support those colleagues who make efforts to keep communities informed. This is not a luxury or a technical bonus, but a genuine need that determines the stability of journalistic teams’ work. Our priority is newsrooms in frontline Regions, but assistance is also received by those media outlets working in other Regions, because the challenges concern the entire country, – comments Serhiy Tomilenko, head of the NUJU.
Special thanks to our Scandinavian partners, the Ukrainian Media Fund, which ensures the sustainability of Ukrainian media professionals. The NUJU is happy to help colleagues stay connected and continue to inform the community even in the most difficult conditions.
Valeriya Muskharina
NUJU Information Service
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